Former Senate President and Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), David Mark, has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of Northern Nigeria, declaring that only a bold, united effort can halt the region’s decline. He also asserted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is the only political party equipped with the vision and determination to address the North’s deepening challenges.
Mark made these remarks at the 3rd Expanded Meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North), held at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The event attracted party members, stakeholders, and supporters from across the country.
Speaking on the theme “Unity and Social Cohesion as a Panacea to the Challenges Facing Northern Nigeria,” Mark painted a sobering picture of the North’s struggles—worsening insecurity, entrenched poverty, and increasing social disintegration.
“These problems didn’t emerge overnight, and they won’t vanish without deliberate and collective action,” Mark warned. “We must first acknowledge our role in creating these problems. Enough of the blame game. If we are sincere about finding lasting solutions, we must take ownership of our reality.”
He attributed the region’s prolonged stagnation to disunity, apathy, and a lack of coordinated response, and called for a return to the values that once defined Northern Nigeria: justice, equity, mutual respect, and shared purpose.
“Division has stalled our progress, while indifference has deepened our fractures,” he said. “To recover, we must revive the spirit of unity and community that once made the North a model of hope, peace, and development.”
Mark added that the region could no longer afford to dwell on its woes.
“The time for lamentation is over. The North is bleeding, and we alone must take the responsibility to heal it,” he declared. “We must reject divisive politics, invest in people-focused development—education, healthcare, infrastructure—and hold ourselves accountable. Only by reconnecting across our differences can we rebuild the bonds of brotherhood.”
He expressed confidence that if these steps are taken, the North could once again become a hub of peace, innovation, and prosperity.
“If we commit to this path, the region will rise—not only in terms of social cohesion but as a force of economic strength and human ingenuity,” he said.
Mark expressed deep concern over the toll that over a decade of violence has taken on the region, pointing to the impact of banditry, insurgency, and communal conflicts that have displaced millions, ravaged rural communities, and choked economic activities.
Despite its abundant human and natural resources, he noted that the North remains burdened by some of the nation’s worst indices—rampant poverty, widespread illiteracy, youth unemployment, and crumbling infrastructure.
In concluding, Mark reaffirmed his belief that the ADC, with its reform-minded leadership and inclusive vision, is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in rescuing and rebuilding Northern Nigeria.
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